Pipe cleaning oven



F. A. SMITH 2,416,412

PIPE CLEANING OVEN Feb. 25, 1947. g

Filed March 23, 1945 3 SheeS-Sheeb 1 Feb. 25, 1947. F. A. SMITH PIPECLEANING OVEN Filed March 25, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 25, 1947. F ASMITH 2,416,412

PIPE CLEANING OVEN Filed March 25, 1945 5 SheetS-Sheet 3 INVENToR.

Patented Feb. 25, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 2,416,412 PIPECLEANING ovEN Forrest A. Smith, Fort Worth, Tex. Application March23,1945, Serial No. 584,279

1 claims. (ci. zes- 2) This invention relates to a pipe cleaning oven.

An object of the invention is to provide pipe cleaning equipment of thecharacter described specially designed for use in cleaning pipe linesthat have been previously buried in the earth and which must bereconditioned to arrest corrosion.

As is well known it is necessary to recondition pipe lines at intervals.In order to do this the line is raised above the ground surface and isfirst cleaned mechanically by a conventional type of pipe cleaner whichremoves the earth, scales and other foreign matter from the surface ofthe pipe. However, this mechanical operation leaves a certain amount ofcorrosion, particularly when the surface of the pipe is pitted. It isanother object of the present invention to provide an oven whichsurrounds, and is movable along, the pipe line and by means of which thesurface of the pipe may be heated so as to destroy all remainingcorrosion and foreign matter that may be on the surface of the pipe sothat the pipe will be perfectly clean and free of all corrosivesubstances. The pipe is then coated with a suitable painting materialand wrapped and then again buried in the earth.

.Another object of the invention is to provide anv oven of the characterdescribed which will conserve the heat so that it will be applied to thepipe, which is readily movable along the pipe and which may be easilyapplied to or removed from the pipe.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particularrelation to certain novel features of construction, operation andarrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specificationandillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a side View of the equipment mounted on a raised pipeline.

Figure 2 shows a perspective View thereof.

Figure 3 shows a plan view.

Figure 4 shows an end view showing the oven partly opened and partly insection.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals ofreference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral Idesignates a longitudinal bar having the downwardly diverging front andrear legs 2, 2 and 3, 3 whose upper ends are welded or otherwise securedto the bar I.

The lower ends of these legs are forwardly and rearwardly turned,respectively, and are provided with the front and rear bearings l, 4 and5, 5.

respectively, ln which the front and rear axles 6 and 1 are mounted torotate. Fixed on these axles are the front wheels 8, 8 and the rearwheels 2` il, 9. 'I'hese wheels are beveled as shown to conform to thecontour of -the pipe along which they travel.

An arch shaped carriage is thus formed from which the oven proper isswung. This oven is formed of two half round sections l0, I0 which arehinged to the bar I of the framework by means of hinges Il so that thesections of the oven may be opened and closed.

As will be noted from an inspection of Figures 1 and 3 the ends o'f theoven are of truste-conical shape, that is they taper outwardly andterminate in the sectional collars as I2 which surround the pipe rathersnugly but with suiiicient clearance to allow the oven to move along thepipe without interference. The sections of the oven may be latchedaround the pipe by means of a latch I3.

Fastened to the sides of the oven, one on each section III thereof, arethe hoods I4 through which the nozzle pipes I5, I5 extend into the oven.These hoods are perforated as shown to admit auxiliary air into the ovenon each side.

Fastened to the rear end of the frame of the carriage there is atransverse sleeve I6 for the reception of a transverse rod I1. The ovenmay be propelled along the pipe line by Workmen, one

on each side, using the rod Il and by the use of said rod the oven maybe also maintained stabilized on the pipe line. Rearwardly of the ovencarriage there is a dolly comprising the platform I8 whose rear end issupported on the pipe by the carrier wheels I9 and whose forward end iscoupled to the rear end of the oven frame.

` Mounted on the dolly platform there is a fuel tank 20 provided tocontain kerosene or other selected fuel.

It is contemplated that an air compressor will move along the linemounted on a suitable vehicle. It is, of course, obvious that the dollyplat'- form I8 couldl be extended and the compressor which is connectedinto the tank 20 so as to place the liquid in the tank undercompression. An outlet pipe 22 is anchored to the top of the tank 20 andextends down intothe tank beneath the level of the liquid therein asshown in dotted lines in Figure .1. Connected to the upper end of thedischarge pipe 22 are the hose 23, 23 which lead to the nozzles 24, 24which are anchored to, and project into, the outer ends of the nozzlepipes I5, I5 and which are controlled by suitable hand operated needlevalves 25, 25; also connected with the pressure line 2| there are thehose26, 2B which are connected into the outer ends of the .up andatomized by the air forced through `the hose 28, 2i andy will enter theoven in combustible vapor form which, when ignited, will create a flamewithin the oven all around the pipe to be cleaned so that all foreignmatter and corrosive material on the pipe will be destroyed as the ovenmoves'along the pipe.

It is contemplated that the oven carriage may be motor driven. For thatpurpose a motor 21 may be mounted on the oven frame. The shaft of thismotor may be provided with a sprocket wheel 28 which is aligned with acorresponding sprocket wheel 29 nxed on the axle 6 and a sprocket chainoperating oversaid sprocket wheel will transmit rotation from the formerto the latter andto the carrier wheels 8, 8.

If this motor is employed to move the oven along the pipe' the rod Ilwill be used only for the purpose of stabilizing the machine on th Theoven sections should be lined with asbestos lliasisshowninFlgure 4.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely while the broadprinciple of the invention will be 'dened by the appended claims.

What I claim is: l. An oven for applying heat to the outer surface ofpipe and shaped to iit around the pipe to form an enclosed chamber aboutthe pipe, means `for supplying a combustible mixture into said chamberand carriers associated with the o'ven land arranged toA move in contactwith the pipe 4 3. A pipe cleaner comprising a carrlag adapted to movealong the pipe to be cleaned.

oven sections hinged thereto and depending therefrom and shaped to closeabout the pipe and form a chamber around the pipe and means for pplyinga combustible mixture into said cham- 4. A pipe cleaner comprisingacarriage, adapt ed to move along the pipe to be cleaned, oven sectionshinged thereto and depending therefrom and shaped to close about thepipe and form a chamber around the pipe, means for supplying acombustible mixture vinto said chamber and means for moving the carriageand oven along the pipe.

5. A pipe cleaner comprising a carriage, adapted to move along the pipeto be cleaned, an oven carried by the carriage 'and shaped to surround apipe and form an enclosed chamber about the pipe and means for supplyinga combustible mixture into said chamber.

6. A pipe cleaner comprising a carriage. an oven mounted on the carriageand shaped to surround a pipe and to form an enclosed chamber about thepipe, nozzle pipes entering the chamber, means for supplying acombustible mixture through said nozzle pipes into the chamber.

'7. AA pipe cleaner comprising a carriage adapted to move along the pipeto be cleaned, an oven supported by the carriage and shaped to surroundthe pipe and to form an enclosed chamber about the pipe, hoods on theoven provided with perforations, nozzle pipes extended through the hoodsinto the chamber andvmeans for supplying a combustible mixture throughsaid nozzle pipes into the chamber.

FORREST A. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references arey ofy record in the le of-this patent:

UNITED STATES lPA.'EN"1S Number Name lfiate 2,288,980 Turin July "l,1942

